Element symbol: TaAtomic number: 73Atomic mass: 181Number of protons: 73Number of electrons: 73Number of neutrons: 181-73=108
Tantalum is part of the group 5 in the periodic table of elements. The colour of tantalum is grey blue. The period of tantalum is 6. It is a metal. The melting point of tantalum is 3290 [or 3017 °C (5463 °F)] K. It's boiling point is 5731 [or 5458 °C (9856 °F)] K. It is nonflammable. The state of tantalum is solid. The density of the element is 16.4 g/cm3.
The discovery of tantalum happened in 1802 in Ytterby, Sweden. The scientist who discovered it was Anders Gustaf Ekenberg. He was a Swedish chemist. When he discovered the new element, lots of scientists believed that he only discovered allotrope of niobium, an element that is chemically similar to tantalum. But they were obviously wrong.
Reaction of tantalum with air
Tantalum does not react with air under normal conditions. The surface of tantalum metal is protected by a thin oxide layer.
Reaction of tantalum with water
Tantalum does not react with water under normal conditions. The surface of tantalum metal is protected by a thin oxide layer.
Reaction of tantalum with the halogens
Tantalum does react with the halogens upon warming to form tantalum(V) halides. So, tantalum reacts with fluorine, F2, chlorine, Cl2, bromine, I2, and iodine, I2, to form respectively tantalum(V) bromide, TaF5, tantalum(V) chloride, TaCl5, tantalum(V) bromide, TaBr5, and tantalum(V) iodide, TaI5.
Tantalum appear not to be attacked by many acids at room temperature but does dissolve in hydrofluoric acid, HF, or oleum (a solution of sulphur trioxide, SO3, in sulphuric acid, H2SO4, also known as fuming sulphuric acid).
Element symbol: TaAtomic number: 73Atomic mass: 181Number of protons: 73Number of electrons: 73Number of neutrons: 181-73=108
Tantalum is part of the group 5 in the periodic table of elements. The colour of tantalum is grey blue. The period of tantalum is 6. It is a metal. The melting point of tantalum is 3290 [or 3017 °C (5463 °F)] K. It's boiling point is 5731 [or 5458 °C (9856 °F)] K. It is nonflammable. The state of tantalum is solid. The density of the element is 16.4 g/cm3.
The discovery of tantalum happened in 1802 in Ytterby, Sweden. The scientist who discovered it was Anders Gustaf Ekenberg. He was a Swedish chemist. When he discovered the new element, lots of scientists believed that he only discovered allotrope of niobium, an element that is chemically similar to tantalum. But they were obviously wrong.
Reaction of tantalum with air
Tantalum does not react with air under normal conditions. The surface of tantalum metal is protected by a thin oxide layer.
Reaction of tantalum with water
Tantalum does not react with water under normal conditions. The surface of tantalum metal is protected by a thin oxide layer.
Reaction of tantalum with the halogens
Tantalum does react with the halogens upon warming to form tantalum(V) halides. So, tantalum reacts with fluorine, F2, chlorine, Cl2, bromine, I2, and iodine, I2, to form respectively tantalum(V) bromide, TaF5, tantalum(V) chloride, TaCl5, tantalum(V) bromide, TaBr5, and tantalum(V) iodide, TaI5.
2Ta(s) + 5F2(g) → TaF5(s) [white]
2Ta(s) + 5Cl2(g) → TaCl5(l) [white]
2Ta(s) + 5Br2(g) → TaBr5(s) [pale yellow]
2Ta(s) + 5I2(g) → TaI5(s) [black]
Reaction of tantalum with acids
Tantalum appear not to be attacked by many acids at room temperature but does dissolve in hydrofluoric acid, HF, or oleum (a solution of sulphur trioxide, SO3, in sulphuric acid, H2SO4, also known as fuming sulphuric acid).
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electron_shell_073_tantalum.png